Campaign:SBRD/Synopses/Chapter 02 Nexus

SBRD Chapter 02: Nexus

SBRD Ch.02 Nexus: Synopsis pt.1

IC Posts: #1 through #72
Postdates: 2013-09-22 through 2013-11-06
In-Game Dates: 3731-08-15 through 3731-08-22

Fortunate Son, along with close escort Leozard, entered Jump from Devonia system en route to Nexus system. While in Jump, most of the crew worked on fixing various items on Chief Engineer Max Black's "short list" of needed repairs, using parts and spares purchased for that purpose back on Devonia. Medical Officer Doc Freeman completed his treatment of passenger Nero Vulpinerrin for the gunshot wound he had taken just before take-off from Devonia. Assistant Engineer Leo Henry repairs the inoperative Engineering Bot and assists on other repairs.

Navigator Donoma Lafitte checks for discrepancies in Library Data about Nexus and notices that official sources from Nexus itself and from other worlds in the Delphi Union are very favorable about the Leader and how he has brought greater freedom and prosperity to Nexus, while other sources seem to regard the Leader as just another dictator who saw a bandwagon and grabbed the reins to put himself in charge, with financial and materiel backing from the Delphi Union in exchange for preferential treatment. Sources from Devonia and the cluster around Ostia are especially critical of the Leader's policies favoring merchants and shipping firms from the Delphi Union.

Passenger Lester Jordan (Nero's assistant/bodyguard) asks if anyone is interested in some freestyle brawling practice in the open space in the cargo bay; Security Chief Gayne Maize and CPO Bruno Kansakarrir have gotten in some sparring practice with Jordan, occasionally with other crew watching or joining in. Jordan proves to be an extremely skillful fighter and a helpful instructor.

Captain Hampton Rhodes and First Officer Kalos Thar take Nero and his wife, Marisa Vulpinerrin, plus Jordan and Nero's financial assistant Wawepaba, on a tour of the ship. Marisa reveals in conversation that she and Nero were both formerly in the military services of the Imperial Realm of Daibei (she in the Navy, he the Marines), but retired and moved to Devonia after their homeworld (Duurmurze) separated from the Imperial Realm.

Fortunate Son exits Jump into Nexus system at 2105 on 3731-08-21, nearly a full day ahead of schedule. Sensors show the ship's position right at the 100-D limit from the mainworld, Nexus XII-G, exactly as planned. The gas giant Nexus XII's orbit is far enough out that the system's F5 V primary is a tiny white dot, barely distinguishable from any other star in sight. Within a few minutes after Jump Exit, the ship receives a recorded comm from Nexus Traffic Control, advising that the ship is required to enter orbit around Nexus XII-G at its present distance until contacted by a customs patrol, and warning that any other maneuver may result in the ship being treated as hostile by system defenses.

After receiving a private recorded comm from Nexus XII-G, Hampton calls a conference of all crew to announce that he must leave for personal business of an unknown duration back on his homeworld (Wosi). He leaves Kalos in charge as Acting Captain and specifies a detailed plan for division of his own shipshares. He will be leaving the ship immediately upon docking at the Nexus Highport.

The customs patrol check turns out to be much less welcoming and much more formal than the checks experienced previously at Devonia; as Hampton puts it, "Sounds like the mainworld rating of Law Level 10 means that all Nexus officers are surgically implanted with a rectal stick and personality inhibitors." All of the inspection team are in combat armor and well-armed. The inspectors require that *all* crew and passengers assemble in the passenger lounge for processing, then issue Temporary Visitor Identification cards for all, advising that an additional permit will be necessary if anyone wishes to leave the starport. Due to the discrepancies in the manifest caused by the attempted theft and last-minute shuffling of freight before take-off from Devonia, the inspectors order Fortunate Son to undergo a detailed inspection of all freight and cargo at the Highport; the ship is also fined Cr250 "for having a transponder that does not accurately report the name of the current Captain according to the logs."

Lt. Quigley comms from Leozard: "As a foreign naval vessel from a state without any formal alliance with Nexus or the Delphi Union, we are being denied permission to approach any closer to Nexus XII-G or the Highport." Since Leozard cannot escort any further, it Jumps back to Devonia.

Donoma notices some unusual activity around the next moon outward, Nexus XII-H. Kalos sets course to dock with the Highport. Kalos makes contact via comm with Horace Brumley, an expediter in the Office of Trade and Development and seemingly the only friendly and helpful person in the bureaucracy that runs the Highport; he is able to void the Cr250 fine, and also sends Kalos current trade goods listings for the Highport and offers to act as broker for Fortunate Son's cargo, which offer Kalos declines.

Kalos, Hampton, Nero, Jordan, Gayne, and Henry meet to discuss the security situation expected at the dock. There are usually two Protectors (paramilitary police) stationed at dockside to control access to/from the ship. It is decided that Gayne and Henry will also stand watches at the ship's cargo lock until everything about the valuable Lanthanum freight it settled so it can be unloaded.

As with most modern space stations, the Highport has interior grav plates and thus no need to spin, and has maneuvering thrusters to maintain its orientation and keep it steady to simplify approach and departure paths. It does not even orbit Nexus XII-G, the mainworld, but rather maintains a position nearby on the side of the mainworld away from the gas giant Nexus XII.

Kalos completes docking maneuvers under the supervision of Hampton. Hampton stands and offers his hand. "Good work, Captain. Nice to know my baby is in good hands." He turns to Donoma for another handshake, which she maneuvers into a goodbye hug. "I've said my goodbyes to everyone else aboard; now you two play nice and take good care of my ship, and I hope I'll be seeing you again somewhere in this region of space in a few months." He backs away and heads toward the iris valve, which dilates open for him. "With your permission, Captain, I'll go on ashore and be on my way." Kalos replies, "Permission granted, Captain. Fair winds and safe sailing."

SBRD Ch.02 Nexus: Synopsis pt.2

IC Posts: #73 through #122
Postdates: 2013-11-06 through 2013-12-29
In-Game Dates: 3731-08-22 through 3731-08-23

Fortunate Son has docked at Nexus Highport, above the system mainworld, Nexus XII-G. Captain Kalos Thar makes an announcement for the passengers about procedures to disembark, and then to the crew about his plans to 1) recruit a new Pilot with at least a Level Two certification; and 2) once all of the Lanthanum has been cleared and unloaded and Fortunate Son has been paid its share, buy as many TL-11 grav vehicles as they can afford, then sell these back on Devonia where they are in high demand, then take the ship to Freehold for some refitting.

Kalos does some research on past-90-days sales data for their cargo and Nero's Lanthanum. He comms Horace Brumley to get a link to all Nexus trade laws and regulations to study in his spare time.

An inspection team comes aboard to search all of Nero Vulpinerrin's freight containers to verify the contents. It appears this inspection may take 2 or 3 days. Since someone from the crew and someone from Nero's company will need to observe the entire process (but not interfere, as they are told by the inspectors!), Chief Engineer/Steward Max Black sets up a snack table with pastries and drinks, which the inspection techs are happy to indulge, but the Protectors are not allowed to partake.

Kalos decides to go ashore to try to make some trade contacts, especially if he can find anything in the profitable "small package trade" (smuggling), and more information on possible connections to Nexus XII-H (which is supposed to be abandoned, but Donoma had detected a ship landing and other energy sources). He takes Security Chief Gayne Maize and CPO Bruno Kansakarrir along as muscle, since all weapons are prohibited under the stations Law Level 10. Kalos leaves Navigator Donoma Lafitte in command while he is gone, with Medical Officer and Cargo Chief Doc Freeman as second in command. Assistant Engineer Leo Henry will be responsible for security at the station inside the main cargo doors.

Kalos, Gayne, and Bruno get hassled about ID by some Protectors, then make their way to the "Accomodations and Restaurants" sector, which is what passes for a Startown on this Highport. They choose a high-end restaurant/hotel, the Nexus Prime, and are initially snubbed by the maître d until Kalos hands him a hefty tip. With a little more cash incentive, Kalos makes a contact through the bartender with "someone with information on the activity at Nexus XII-H," a commcode written on a napkin. Kalos and Gayne also enjoy a fine (and expensive!) dish of crottled greeps, while Bruno prefers a roast beef sandwich. Kalos calls the commcode and is instructed to return to the hotel at 1930 and ask the maître d for Mr. Blake. The group returns to the ship.

Upon return to the Nexus Prime, the group (Kalos, Gayne, and Bruno again) are escorted to a luxury suite where they meet Nirid al-Bhakar, known locally as Mr. Blake. After questioning Kalos about his past history and reasons for seeking him out, al-Bhakar pauses, then looks at Kalos directly and says, "Hate is an unpleasant place." Kalos tries to think of what this may be in reference to, and responds, "If Hate is the port at XII-H, or H-8, I am sorry but I have never been there myself so as to have any opinion of it."

Al-Bhakar smiles, as if Kalos has passed some test. "No, according to my files you have not. For one who has been there, the proper response to that statement is, 'But sometimes it is the only place to find what you need.' You would do well to remember that. Actually, those of us doing business there prefer to call the port Nexus-Under, but the nickname Hate persists from old days and you should respond appropriately if you hear it used. Now, gentlemen, please eat whatever you like from my humble table, and please excuse me as I reference my datapad on some business related to our meeting tonight."

After some perusal of his datapad, al-Bhakar pauses to look to Kalos, and when Kalos has finished chewing a bite of some salty stewed fruit, asks whether or not his planned itinerary could accomodate a freight shipment to Freehold. "Yes," replies Kalos. "In fact our current plan is to carry a cargo back to Devonia, then jump from there through Ixion to Freehold, where we have some business to transact." "Excellent," states al-Bhakar. "If you would be interested in adding a small but profitable freight to that trip, I would like for you to meet with Mr. Harris Niven at The Black Thumb on Nexus-Under." He slides a black datacard to Kalos. "This will act as your passport to Nexus-Under, and will also identify you to Mr. Niven as being sent to him by me. Mr. Niven will be acting as my agent in this transaction; if the two of you are able to reach agreeable terms, it would please me for you to carry this small freight to Freehold. And now, let us enjoy our meal and speak no more of business!"

Upon return to the ship and finding the inspection almost complete, Kalos announces liberty will be available to all crew for the expected week of signing up passengers and freight; Kalos has contacted Brumley to place an announcement of the Fortunate Son's next port of call as Devonia. He also notifies Nero Vulpinerrin, who thought he might wish to book passage back if his business at Nexus in concluded.

By 0545 the next morning, the inspection is completed and Kalos is called down to sign off on the Revised Manifest so that the cargo and freight can be unloaded. The final freight quantities were determined to be 36 dTons of Special Minerals and 12 dTons of Lanthanum. Kalos offered the weary Doc Freeman an immediate 48 hour liberty, and suggested the Nexus Prime in response to Doc's query about a high class place where he can find a game of cards. Wawepaba is also exhausted and asks Kalos to hold the freight onboard until it is sold.

Max puts out some requests for bids on replacing some of the ship's computers and other electronics with TL-11 upgrades. The first to return Max's comm is Arjun Rahaman, of Feziota TechPlus. They make an appointment to meet at a coffee shop near the docks.

Within a few hours of the Revised Manifest being completed and signed, and before it has been officially released, Kalos is already besieged with calls about the cargo and freight.

• Teodor Raspinov of Guthrie & Sons makes a bid on the Wood, asks questions demonstrating that he already knows exactly what kind of Wood is being carried, and is upset when Kalos wants to wait for other bids before making a decision.

• Indira Hemingway of Nexus Traders LLC bids on the cargo of Wood and also the ship's small portion of Lanthanum, however what she really wants is to get a deal on Nero's freight of Lanthanum and Special Minerals, and she offers Kalos a kickback/bribe if he can arrange it.

• Inushuvir Grant of Smith-Grant-Paulson Factors also bids on the Wood, but is not interested in the small cargo of Lanthanum unless it can be combined with Nero's Lanthanum freight.

• Eneri Kilshanivi of Kilshanivi Metal Brokers is brusque and almost rude, is not interested in the Wood at all, but makes an offer for any Lanthanum he can buy, and/or the Special Minerals if Kalos can arrange a deal.

Kalos figures that Grant's offer is the best on the Wood. Kalos works over the various bids on the metals and sets up a presentation for discussion with Nero; it appears that the best deal will be to sell the Lanthanum to Grant and the Special Minerals to Kilshanivi. Then, just as he is thinking that it has been a productive morning with pleasing prospects, he receives one more comm...

There is no incoming holo signal, only voice. "And don't bother expecting any, either!" says a cold, machine-altered voice. "If you aren't recording, you'd better start now. We don't care what other offers you or Vulpinerrin get for that Lanthanum, you tell him he's taking our deal or he'll never see his wife alive again... just assorted pieces which won't be nearly so pretty. The Lanthanum gets offloaded at this asteroid [coordinates] no later than 1800, 3731-08-29. That asteroid isn't in the Nexus Belt; it's a stray, out ahead of Nexus XII in this same orbit. In case you haven't got it figured yet, it will take you 125 hours to get there at 3-G, which means you'd better get your ship cleared and get moving by 1300 tomorrow, and you'd better believe it can take you that long to get cleared here on our nice, law-abiding, redtape-loving little moon. Within 48 hours after you offload the Lanthanum and start your burn back toward Nexus XII, Marisa Vulpinerrin will be released alive and unharmed on the next moon out from here, Nexus XII-H. She can catch a shuttle back here from there; I wouldn't advise you trying to go there after her without an invitation, they have a tendency to blast trespassers into shiny, glowing debris. And hey, just to show we aren't thieves, she'll have a credit certificate worth Cr43M... [the cruel laughter is made even more sinister by the voice-alteration program]" The connection terminates.

Kalos comms Nero and asks to meet with him; informs the crew, plays the recording for them; arranges to confirm the sale of Wood to Grant and have him offload it; then goes to meet Nero.